Page 44 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

I drop it back onto my plate.

The diner's warm, ambient noise is good for me. I look around at my own table, which is surrounded by some of the hospital staff on my team today. It’s been a heavy-duty day, and I brought them all here to appreciate their tenacity at work today.

Or that’s the excuse I made for needing the distraction. I almost freaked out when my shift ended earlier today and I realized I would no longer have work to occupy my mind, so I announced a sudden night out to appreciate my team.

The smell of fried food and the chatter of colleagues usually make for a pleasant evening, but tonight, my mind is elsewhere. I poke at my food, barely listening to the conversations around me.

My phone buzzes on the table, and I grab it hurriedly, almost knocking over my drink in the process. I almost pump my fist in the air when I see the name flashing on the screen: Emma. A grin stretches wide across my face as I unlock the phone. I drag in a breath to control the surge of excitement in my belly as I quickly open the message.

| Hey, I have a favor to ask. Tomorrow, can you come with me to look at some wedding venues?

Yes! My inner-self definitely does a fist pump this time. Outside, I let a broad smile spread across my face. My fingers hover over the keyboard, several responses already warring in my mind. Before I can type, Grace, one of the nurses sitting beside me, leans over with a knowing smile.

“Looks like the message you’ve been waiting for finally arrived.” A wink follows her playful chirp.

I frown, quickly tucking the phone back into my pocket. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to play it cool.

She laughs, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Come on, Dr. Miller. You've been a million miles away ever since we walked in here. We’ve all noticed you constantly checking your phone. It’s obvious something’s up.”

Shit! I glance around to see the half-dozen pairs of eyes watching me, their expressions filled with amusement.

Grace continues, “We figured you invited us all to dinner to get your mind off something. Or someone.”

Caught so openly, I feel my cheeks heat up. I shrug, attempting nonchalance. “Alright, you got me. Let’s just say I’ve been waiting for some news.”

Grace’s grin widens. “And now that you’ve got it, can we get back to enjoying our evening?”

I laugh, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Absolutely. Everyone,” I manage a smile, “dig in. Go ahead and enjoy this evening. Don't mind me.”

A little chatter and laughter goes up around the table as we all cheer and clink glasses, and the attention shifts back to food and drinks. I turn back to my phone, focusing on Emma’s message. I start to type a response, but I edit my words several times, not wanting to sound too eager. Eventually, I settle on a simple reply.

| Sure, what time?

Her response comes quickly.

| How about 10:00 AM? I’ll pick you up.

I grin and type back.

| Sounds good. See you then.

I place my phone down and turn to the group. “Another round of drinks on me!” This time, the cheers are louder, and for the first time since this morning, I feel genuinely excited. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.

As I watch the staff around me, laughing and enjoying their evening, my mind drifts back to Emma. It must have been obvious that I’d been staring at my phone all day, fighting the urge to call her. It’s frustrating how much she’s on my mind, and I can’t deny how badly I want to be with her. Every time I think of her, my body reacts instantly, a wave of heat rushing through me. I’ve never felt like this before. It’s why I usually stick to one-night stands, keeping things simple and uncomplicated.

But Emma… She’s different. Last night in the car was unexpected, wild, and mind-blowing. It was…intense…in a way I’ve never felt before. The sex was an unexpected explosion of raw desire, a hunger in her mating that both surprised and thrilled me. I should have known better than to underestimate Emma Cole. She clearly has a whole other side to her, a hidden fire beneath that seemingly composed exterior. I just didn’t think she had that much in her, but she keeps surprising me. I know I need to be careful, to stick to the rules I’ve made, but it’s getting harder every day.

My thoughts are consumed with her—where she is, what she’s doing, what she’s wearing. If that stray curl is escaping her ponytail or if she’s thinking of me as she dresses up and sees herself in the mirror.

The rest of the evening passes in a blur of laughter and conversation. I join in, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Emma. When the dinner finally winds down, we all say our goodbyes, and I head home, my anticipation for tomorrow building with every step.

The streetlights cast an orange glow as I pull out of the diner parking lot, the engine humming a familiar tune. Despite the late hour, the city hums with a low-key energy, and the night sky stretches endlessly above, dotted with stars.

As I navigate the quiet streets, my thoughts drift to Emma. I stare down at my phone, my mind returning to my texts. I wonder if she's still awake, if she's thinking about me.

My fingers itch to type another message. Or should I just call her?

Now that the idea is in my head, the urge to call and hear her voice grows stronger with each passing moment.

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